The island’s umbrella trade union body and a major teacher’s union are adamant that public officers must be given salary and wage increases this year, despite the Central Bank’s recommendation that a raise in pay shouldn’t be based on the rising cost of living. During his second-quarter economic review Press conference on Wednesday, Governor Cleviston Haynes declared he would not recommend public officers pursue salary increases as a means of tackling high prices.Haynes said the Government would have to make some very difficult choices in order to be able to facilitate an increase in wages. “Trying to chase prices through wage increases, I think, most economists would tell you that is not really a good idea. What the Government has tried to do which is perhaps more recommended, is try to be more targeted in some of the relief it provides to those who are going to be most impacted by what we hope, is a temporary rise in the cost of living,” he asserted.
